Bilobalide promotes expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in rat astrocytes

AIM: To study the effects of bilobalide on the expression of glial cell lin e-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rat astrocytes in vitro. METHODS: Semiquantification polymerase chain reaction (SQ-PCR) was used to investigate GDNF and VEGF mRNA expressi on in the astrocytes after bilobalide (5, 15, 50, 100 mu mol.L-1) treatment . Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect GDNF and VEGF protein expr ession in cells treated with bilobalide 50 mu mol.L-1 for 24 h. RESULTS: GD NF and VEGF mRNA increased markedly after astrocytes were treated With bilo balide 50 mu mol.L-1 for 12 h. GDNF and VEGF protein were detected in the c ytoplasm of astrocytes after the cells were treated with bilobalide 50 mu m ol.L-1 for 24 h. CONCLUSION: Bilobalide induced GDNF and VEGF expression in the cultured astrocytes.